Ryan Dunn
A fearless and beloved Jackass star whose outrageous stunts and infectious laugh embodied the crew's chaotic, brotherly spirit.
1977–2011 (age 34)·American television personality and stunt performer·Birthday: June 11·Generation X
Biography
Ryan Dunn was the grinning, wild-eyed engine of chaos at the heart of the Jackass phenomenon. From the show's inception, he wasn't just a participant; he was a catalyst, constantly dreaming up new and terrifying ways to hurl himself into harm's way for a laugh. His friendship with Bam Margera was the axis of some of the franchise's most memorable and painful bits, a partnership built on mutual, joyful torment. Dunn's appeal lay in his authenticity—the stunts seemed to stem from a genuine, almost childlike curiosity about what would happen. Off-camera, he was known as a loyal and generous friend within the tight-knit Jackass family. His tragic death in 2011 cut short a life that, for all its public recklessness, was remembered by those who knew him for its warmth and loyalty.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ryan was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Ryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2011Died at 34
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Was a core cast member of the MTV series 'Jackass' and its subsequent blockbuster film franchise.
- Co-starred in and co-produced the spin-off series 'Viva La Bam' with his close friend Bam Margera.
- Performed some of the most notoriously dangerous stunts in the Jackass canon, including being launched in a porta-potty.
- His persona was central to the success of the 'Jackass' movies, which grossed hundreds of millions worldwide.
Did You Know?
He worked as a landscaper and at a skate shop before joining the Jackass crew.
He was an accomplished skateboarder and appeared in several skate videos prior to Jackass.
He directed and starred in the 2008 comedy film 'Haggard', which was based on his own life experiences.
He owned a bar in West Chester, Pennsylvania, called 'The Note'.
“I'm not here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.”
